Aligned chopping for full thickness fragmentation in hard cataracts

Abstract

We describe a horizontal chopping technique to fracture the nucleus using an angled sharp edged chopper, thats enters the anterior chamber through a side port in a 30° angle to the main incision. Following the capsulorrhexis, the phaco tip is buried into the nucleus centrally, while the surgeon-bent chopper is placed behind the lens on the opposite side of the main incision. When moving the chopper towards the phaco tip, the angle allows a sharp clean cut of the hard nucleus, dividing it in 2 hemispheres and consequently further in smaller fragments.